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Exterminate carpenter bees


How to get rid of carpenter bees: 6 simple ways

Carpenter bees can damage wooden structures, which is why you need to look out for them and discourage them from these parts of your home. 

Part of the Xylocopa genus of the Apidae, or bee family, carpenter bees are common in the USA, and while they are important pollinators of many flowering plants, they can damage sheds, pergolas and much more. 

Unlike with getting rid of wasps, where you may seek to kill them if you have a real problem, it is far better to deter carpenter bees in the first place – they are only seen as pests because of the damage they can do to buildings.

How to get rid of carpenter bees without killing them

Getting rid of carpenter bees without killing them is best for a wildlife-friendly garden. Try natural methods if possible – any treatment that can harm the environment, and in particular useful pollinators, should ideally be avoided.

To make wooden structures much less appealing to carpenter bees, it's vital to varnish or paint them – carpenter bees love untreated or unstained wood, but hate wood that has been treated. This is an easy fix and will protect wood structures from the weather, too.

Get rid of carpenter bees in your backyard

There are many ways to get rid of carpenter bees, from doing so without killing them to using spray and even vinegar. These are the most effective ways of tackling them.

1. Use a natural spray

For a natural solution that deters rather than kills them – our preferred route – use citrus scents, which they dislike, to get rid of them.

To make your own, boil up citrus fruit rinds in water, or add some drops of citrus oil to water, and spray around the tell-tale holes. It's thought that the scent of lemon is effective at deterring ants, too.

Alternatively, try a few drops of almond oil. 

If you’re worried about the solution marking the wood, try it out in an inconspicuous area first.

2. Try an insecticide

Of course, you can kill carpenter bees with insecticide but that should only be done in desperate circumstances because, as we say, these are important pollinators. Also, be aware that insecticides are hazardous to children and pets so keep them in the house while you work, and put on protective clothing. 

Spraying an insecticide onto the wood where carpenter bees will or have in the past gathered before they arrive will deter them. Some specialist insecticides designed for carpenter bees can also be sprayed around and into their holes. Try a foaming aerosol, such as BioAdvanced Termite and Carpenter BeeKiller Plus from Amazon , to get right into the tunnels the bees create, or use an insecticidal liquid in a trigger spray. Alternatively, insecticidal dust can be puffed into the holes. 

You might need to make repeat applications, starting in early spring. Once the bees have died, seal up the holes to prevent them from being used by new bees. Lengths of wooden dowelling or caulk can be used to plug the holes. 

Worried about getting too close to carpenter bees? We would always advise calling in a professional firm to do the job for you.

These insects can damage wooden structures in your plot

(Image credit: Scott Carruthers / Alamy Stock Photo)

3. Deter them with sound

It’s said that carpenter bees are affected by sound, so by turning up the volume close to the carpenter bees’ home, the vibrations might encourage them to move out. Do explain to your neighbors before blasting them with noise for a couple of days.

Another option is to try wind chimes, which may be enough to deter them from settling.

4. Use a carpenter bee trap

You can use a carpenter bee trap, such as these Original B Brothers designs from Amazon . The bees fly in but they can’t escape. Choose one that’s designed specifically for carpenter bees, and hang the trap close to the affected wood. 

You can also make your own bee trap, constructing a wooden box with angled holes for the bee to enter, with a plastic jar fixed to the bottom – the bees get in and head towards the light but can’t get out.

5. Use vinegar

To get rid of carpenter bees with vinegar, mix up a strong solution of vinegar and water and spray it directly into the bees' holes. This will kill carpenter bee larvae, so if you are looking to deter them rather than kill them, you might want to look to more bee-friendly options.

Carpenter bees are much larger than honey bees

(Image credit: Naturepix / Alamy Stock Photo)

6. Try using WD40

You can use WD40, available from Amazon , to get rid of carpenter bees – spray it into their nest and they will die or flee quickly. 

However, this is another method of getting rid of carpenter bees that isn't wildlife friendly. Plus, WD40 is highly flammable, toxic, and has a very strong scent. 

FAQs

How do I recognize carpenter bees?

Unlike honeybees or bumblebees, carpenter bees don’t live in colonies, preferring to excavate a tunnel to lay their eggs.

Also, carpenter bees are much larger and have black and shiny abdomens. The males don’t sting though they can fly too close for comfort if they feel you’re on their territory. But bother a female carpenter bee at your peril, as they can sting.

How can I spot carpenter bee damage?

To spot carpenter bee damage, take a closer look at wooden structures around the yard. Carpenter bees like to bore their way into wood – especially sheds, pergolas, posts, porches, window trim and even the eaves of the house. Once they’ve bored a smooth, round hole, about ½ in in diameter, they make a right-angled turn to construct a burrow, hidden from sight, creating cells for individual eggs.

You might spot sawdust by the holes where a bee has been boring. Older holes can also be enlarged or reused by the bees. Adult bees can overwinter in the tunnels, emerging in spring to mate. Over time, the damage can result in decay, moisture retention, and rot.

How to get rid of carpenter bees: 6 simple ways

Carpenter bees can damage wooden structures, which is why you need to look out for them and discourage them from these parts of your home.  

Part of the Xylocopa genus of the Apidae, or bee family, carpenter bees are common in the USA, and while they are important pollinators of many flowering plants, they can damage sheds, pergolas and much more. 

Unlike with getting rid of wasps, where you may seek to kill them if you have a real problem, it is far better to deter carpenter bees in the first place – they are only seen as pests because of the damage they can do to buildings.

How to get rid of carpenter bees without killing them

Getting rid of carpenter bees without killing them is best for a wildlife-friendly garden. Try natural methods if possible – any treatment that can harm the environment, and in particular useful pollinators, should ideally be avoided.

To make wooden structures much less appealing to carpenter bees, it's vital to varnish or paint them – carpenter bees love untreated or unstained wood, but hate wood that has been treated. This is an easy fix and will protect wood structures from the weather, too.

Get rid of carpenter bees in your backyard

There are many ways to get rid of carpenter bees, from doing so without killing them to using spray and even vinegar. These are the most effective ways of tackling them.

1. Use a natural spray

For a natural solution that deters rather than kills them – our preferred route – use citrus scents, which they dislike, to get rid of them.

To make your own, boil up citrus fruit rinds in water, or add some drops of citrus oil to water, and spray around the tell-tale holes. It's thought that the scent of lemon is effective at deterring ants, too.

Alternatively, try a few drops of almond oil. 

If you’re worried about the solution marking the wood, try it out in an inconspicuous area first.

2. Try an insecticide

Of course, you can kill carpenter bees with insecticide but that should only be done in desperate circumstances because, as we say, these are important pollinators. Also, be aware that insecticides are hazardous to children and pets so keep them in the house while you work, and put on protective clothing.  

Spraying an insecticide onto the wood where carpenter bees will or have in the past gathered before they arrive will deter them. Some specialist insecticides designed for carpenter bees can also be sprayed around and into their holes. Try a foaming aerosol, such as BioAdvanced Termite and Carpenter BeeKiller Plus from Amazon , to get right into the tunnels the bees create, or use an insecticidal liquid in a trigger spray. Alternatively, insecticidal dust can be puffed into the holes. 

You might need to make repeat applications, starting in early spring. Once the bees have died, seal up the holes to prevent them from being used by new bees. Lengths of wooden dowelling or caulk can be used to plug the holes. 

Worried about getting too close to carpenter bees? We would always advise calling in a professional firm to do the job for you.

These insects can damage wooden structures in your plot

(Image credit: Scott Carruthers / Alamy Stock Photo)

3.

Deter them with sound

It’s said that carpenter bees are affected by sound, so by turning up the volume close to the carpenter bees’ home, the vibrations might encourage them to move out. Do explain to your neighbors before blasting them with noise for a couple of days.

Another option is to try wind chimes, which may be enough to deter them from settling.

4. Use a carpenter bee trap

You can use a carpenter bee trap, such as these Original B Brothers designs from Amazon . The bees fly in but they can’t escape. Choose one that’s designed specifically for carpenter bees, and hang the trap close to the affected wood. 

You can also make your own bee trap, constructing a wooden box with angled holes for the bee to enter, with a plastic jar fixed to the bottom – the bees get in and head towards the light but can’t get out.

5. Use vinegar

To get rid of carpenter bees with vinegar, mix up a strong solution of vinegar and water and spray it directly into the bees' holes. This will kill carpenter bee larvae, so if you are looking to deter them rather than kill them, you might want to look to more bee-friendly options.

Carpenter bees are much larger than honey bees

(Image credit: Naturepix / Alamy Stock Photo)

6. Try using WD40

You can use WD40, available from Amazon , to get rid of carpenter bees – spray it into their nest and they will die or flee quickly. 

However, this is another method of getting rid of carpenter bees that isn't wildlife friendly. Plus, WD40 is highly flammable, toxic, and has a very strong scent. 

FAQs

How do I recognize carpenter bees?

Unlike honeybees or bumblebees, carpenter bees don’t live in colonies, preferring to excavate a tunnel to lay their eggs.

Also, carpenter bees are much larger and have black and shiny abdomens. The males don’t sting though they can fly too close for comfort if they feel you’re on their territory. But bother a female carpenter bee at your peril, as they can sting.

How can I spot carpenter bee damage?

To spot carpenter bee damage, take a closer look at wooden structures around the yard. Carpenter bees like to bore their way into wood – especially sheds, pergolas, posts, porches, window trim and even the eaves of the house. Once they’ve bored a smooth, round hole, about ½ in in diameter, they make a right-angled turn to construct a burrow, hidden from sight, creating cells for individual eggs.

You might spot sawdust by the holes where a bee has been boring. Older holes can also be enlarged or reused by the bees. Adult bees can overwinter in the tunnels, emerging in spring to mate. Over time, the damage can result in decay, moisture retention, and rot.

Carpenter bees - what are dangerous and how to get rid of them? Photo — Botanichka

Once at an old dacha we noticed some interesting "neighbors". These were unusual dark-colored insects, similar either to large flies, or to bees, or to bumblebees. And they lived directly inside the canvas of the front door to the house. The door was old, it had several holes of incomprehensible origin, from which these insects periodically flew out and flew in. They've obviously set up accommodation there! I don’t know what damage was done to the country door, which already required replacement, but, as we later found out, such tenants can cause significant damage to new buildings. What are these insects and how to deal with them, I will tell in this article.

Carpenter bees - why are they dangerous and how to get rid of them? © Elena Kreuzberg

Features of carpenter bees

Carpenter bees ( Xylocopa valga ) live on all continents except Antarctica. They have a body length of 12 to 25 mm. The color is black, greenish-black, dark blue with a metallic sheen or purple tint. The wings of these insects are black with a blue-violet sheen. Antennae black above, reddish below. There are yellow areas on the head near the eyes, and yellowish hairs are also present on the legs, chest and abdomen (but not as bright or numerous as in bumblebees).

Carpenter bees have a large, dense build and are sometimes confused with bumblebees. To unmistakably identify such a bee, look at the upper abdomen of the insect. While the abdomen of a bumblebee is densely covered with hairs, the upper abdomen of the carpenter bee will be hairless, black, and shiny.

These bees are solitary, they "dig" tunnels in wood to make their home, especially preferring the bare and weathered surface of the tree. They gnaw their passages with their jaws, and the length of the passages is from 30 cm to 1.5 m, the entrance diameter is from 0.7 mm to 1 cm. It is important to note that carpenter bees do not feed on wood throughout their entire life cycle, and sawdust thrown out by insects.

Each larva is in an individual cell located inside such a passage. Although these bees do not form a swarm, several females can live together in the same nest, with one female breeding while the others guard the brood. Bees often block the entrance to the nest with their own abdomen.

Males and females overwinter in nesting passages. When it gets warm enough in spring, the adults emerge from the nests and mate. The males die shortly after mating, and the females begin to dig new tunnels or expand old buildings. Carpenter bees, like honey bees, feed on pollen and nectar. Females provide their larvae with food by placing balls of pollen and bee bread in the cell in advance, after which the bee lays eggs in each chamber and soon dies.

The offspring of the eggs hatch after a few days, and the young larvae begin to feed on the food left for them by the mother. Within five to seven weeks (depending on the temperature conditions of the environment), the bee pupates and reaches an adult state. A new generation of carpenter bees emerge in late summer to feed on nectar before preparing for winter. The life span of a carpenter bee does not exceed one year.

These insects, like common bees, are good pollinators, but only for flowers with an open corolla. But plants with deeper nectar are a problem for them, and insects treat them “barbarically”. To get to the sweet nectar, the carpenter bees cut the side of the flower, penetrate into the center, and deprive the flower of its juice without providing any pollination services in return, since they do not come into contact with the anthers.

In order to collect pollen grains for food for larvae, carpenter bees practice a very interesting technique called “buzz pollination”. It looks like this: when a bee lands on a flower, it uses its pectoral muscles to create vibrating sound waves that shake the pollen off the anthers.

Carpenter bee or wood borer bee (Xylocopa valga). © Vlad Proklov

Why are carpenter bees dangerous?

Carpenter bees can be a real nuisance for summer residents and owners of country houses. They often build nests close to humans: in front doors, decking, porches, cornices, stair railings, garden furniture, wooden fence posts, and other similar structures. Every year they cause massive damage to the tree by tunneling in various designs.

Carpenter bees are certainly not termites or carpenter beetles, they do not feed on wood, and their nest tunnels are limited in size. However, after a few years, the damage to the wood can become quite significant as the bees widen old tunnels and "dig" new ones. If carpenter bees are allowed to tunnel through a wooden structure year after year, the cumulative damage can be significant.

In addition, they also spoil the appearance of wooden structures, leave stains with their feces. Since such bees are used to recovering at the entrance to their dwelling, yellow spots can be seen on the surface of the tree, just below the entrance to the nest.

These insects can also be aggressive, especially during the mating season, which occurs in April-May. At this time, male carpenter bees usually fly around the nest holes in search of females. During such a period, aggressive insects may well fly very close to people and animals, even deliberately crash into them and dive overhead.

It is the males who show the greatest aggressiveness, but they are not able to bite, since they do not have a stinger. But females can already sting, but only if they are seriously provoked. In particular, don't swing your arms too much, catch bees or press them hard, it's better to just ignore their buzzing and aggressive flights over your head.

Read also our article How black wasps helped us in the fight against pest larvae.

Bee trap

How to get rid of carpenter bees?

The best defense against carpenter bees is, as in many cases, preventing them from attacking. These insects prefer to damage woods such as pine, fir, cypress, oak, and mahogany, especially if the wood is not barked, stained, or treated.

Sometimes bees also colonize painted wood, especially if the paintwork is old and peeling. Therefore, you can prevent carpenter bees from nesting in the first place by painting the exterior of the house or other woodwork, or by resurfacing an old coat of paint. A fresh coat of paint or varnish is unattractive to the carpenter bee.

Close as many cracks in the wood as possible. Carpenter bees look for cracks that will make their entrances less visible to woodpeckers, so they prefer to populate such wood. Therefore, as soon as the installation of the structure is completed, be sure to seal all cracks and crevices.

If carpenter bees have already inhabited your wooden structures, it is better to try to simply expel insects without destroying them, since in Russia and Ukraine these insects are listed in the Red Book.

You can suspect that you have such unusual neighbors by the following signs:

Read also our article Firefighter beetles - how useful for the garden and can they harm?

Bees really dislike vibration and loud noises near their home. Therefore, in order for the bee to leave its nest, it is recommended to periodically turn on the perforator, or listen to loud music with low bass. It is believed that after some time (on average, after 2-3 days) the bees should leave their nest in search of a quieter place.

Another way is to watch the nest and close up all the entrances and exits to the burrows when the occupants leave them. As soon as you see that the bees have flown outside in the spring, seal the holes for the nests with putty. You can also putty the nest entrances in the fall, after the next generation of carpenter bees have hatched. Before puttying, it is recommended to spray inside a spray with citrus essential oil diluted with water, and also put a piece of a steel mesh sponge into the hole. Holes can also be covered with sealant or putty.

You can also make a bee trap that mimics a natural carpenter bee nest with angled entry holes. Inside, it has the shape of a funnel (for example, you can insert a cut off top from a plastic bottle). A bee, climbing into a hole, falls into a wooden chamber, after which it falls into a funnel from a bottle, which leads it into a container of water (bottom of the cut bottle). You can also add soapy water to the water to make it harder for the insect to get out. Once the carpenter bees start filling the trap, their pheromones will begin to attract other carpenter bees.

Where is the best place to place such a trap? If your wooden structures are already infested with carpenter bees, place the traps where there is a particular activity of insects, and in particular, right above the existing holes. If carpenter bees have not yet chosen your property, but you are afraid of their appearance, set traps in the corners and tops of buildings, preferably on the sunniest side of your house.

With regard to inhumane methods, involving the destruction of insects, the use of insecticides, which are sprayed or covered in holes, is practiced. The bee, penetrating into the nest, touches the poison with its abdomen. Also, boric acid and aerosol cleaner for carburetors, which are sprayed into the hole, will help against bees.

How to get rid of bees in the wall of a wooden house: tips, videos

Contents:

  1. What wood bees look like and why they are dangerous
  2. Popular tree bee control methods
  3. Prevention of the appearance of bees
  4. Video

The question of how to get rid of bees in the wall of a wooden house is relevant for owners of private estates and outbuildings made of wood. Despite the benefits of insects (pollination of plants, the destruction of flies and caterpillars), they cause a lot of inconvenience. Such a neighborhood threatens with bites, the development of an allergic reaction and nervous shock. In addition, buildings are more likely to collapse as the bees gnaw through wooden walls to lay eggs and make a home for their offspring.

The carpenter bee is a large insect, the proximity to which threatens to bite and destroy wooden buildings. In addition, it causes fear with its impressive size and loud buzzing

You can cope with bees in a wooden house on your own, using insecticides, folk remedies and mechanical methods. The article contains effective methods of pest control and preventive measures that will protect you from the neighborhood with insects.

What wood bees look like and why they are dangerous

Wood bee (carpenter) - a large wild insect with a dense rounded black body. The body of the pest is crowned with transparent wings with a purple tint, and long antennae are located on the head. The paws of insects are covered with many villi, which allows them to carry a maximum of pollen at a time. Female carpenters possess a sharp stinger that they use as a defense.

Insects got their name because of the habit of settling in wooden buildings (walls of houses, dachas, bathhouses), on balconies, under the roofs of brick houses or in tree trunks (less often found in the garden in the ground). Carpenters do not feed on wood, but gnaw through it in order to lay eggs and create comfortable conditions for offspring. Insects multiply quickly, therefore they constantly expand the expanses of their abode, gnawing out new moves and increasing the voids in the tree.

Carpenters build a dwelling in dry tree trunks, walls of wooden buildings and fences

Bees that have settled in the neighborhood cause inconvenience and danger. The main risk is the carpenter's bite, which is not only painful, but also poisonous. In healthy people, swelling, redness, itching and discomfort appear at the sting site. In addition, during a bite, poison enters the human body, which has a depressing effect on the nervous system and causes shock. And in the presence of an allergic reaction, such a phenomenon can cause anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema and lead to very sad consequences.

Carpenter bees are predominantly solitary insects, which makes it difficult to exterminate them. For the complete destruction of insects in a house or in a summer cottage, one should find and destroy their habitat, as well as kill the queen to avoid re-growth of the population.

Bees are also dangerous because of their behavior, which is provided by nature. By landscaping housing, such neighbors damage wooden floors and walls. This leads to the appearance of voids into which spores of the fungus fall, which in the future can lead to the destruction of the structure. In addition, in the passages laid by carpenters, grinder beetles can settle, which are no less dangerous for buildings.

Carpenter bees are quite impressive in size, with a black body covered with small fluff and purple wings

Popular methods of dealing with tree bees

You can get rid of tree bees in the wall of the house yourself, using pesticides, available home or folk remedies. During the operation, it is important to observe safety measures, and in the case of the use of insecticides, strictly follow the instructions. In the article, we have collected the most effective methods of struggle that will help get rid of bees that have settled in the walls of a wooden house or on a plot.

When starting to exterminate pests, follow these simple tips:

When you go hunting for bees, put on a special protective suit or thick clothing. This will reduce the risk of being stung and protect against pest poison

Pesticides and insecticides

For the rapid destruction of adults and larvae, chemical compositions are used - pesticides and insecticides. Preferably, carbaryl or boric acid is used. The procedure for use is simple: dissolve a small amount of powder in water and treat the place where insects accumulate with the resulting mixture, or pour it into an earthen hive. When working with toxic compounds, observe safety measures: put on a respirator and a protective suit, avoid getting poison on the skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory organs.

Do not use insecticides that are not intended for bees. This will only increase the aggressiveness of the pests, and the evil swarm will actively attack people and animals.

Loud noise

Vibration and loud sounds are not acceptable for bees. To expel insects, place large speakers as close to the walls of the house as possible and turn up the music at maximum volume. You can also connect a special device that creates vibration. This will force the insects to get out of the nest and leave it for good.

Loud music and vibration that pests can't stand will help get rid of carpenters in the walls of houses. Pour liquid directly into the habitat of pests and it will destroy insects. When working with gasoline or diesel fuel, take precautions to prevent fire. In addition to fire safety measures, take care of personal protection.

Carburetor Cleaner

Carburetor liquid will help to destroy the bees in the walls of a wooden house. To carry out disinfestation, simply spray the composition from a can in the habitat of insects. An unpleasant smell will scare away pests and deprive them of the desire to return again.

After the extermination of adults, take care of their offspring. To destroy the larvae in the cracks and passages of the bee dwelling, pour the insecticide in the form of a powder (the liquid will quickly be absorbed into the tree and the effect of it will be much lower), and in the autumn seal all the holes.

Traps for bees

Home-made traps placed on the sunny side will help lure insects out of the nest and remove them from the plot or walls of the house. The order in which they are made is:

  1. Build a small frame out of wood with small holes around the perimeter.
  2. At the bottom of the trap, attach a regular plastic bottle filled with a mild soap solution (water and dish detergent).
  3. The scent of the wood will attract carpenters, and if they enter the wooden box, they will fall into a soapy solution from which they cannot escape.

A trap with bait will help to breed wild bees and get rid of single neighbors. This method has a number of advantages: safety, environmental friendliness, the ability to make it yourself from improvised materials

Prevention of the appearance of bees

After expelling wasps or bees from the walls of your house, take care of preventive measures:

Sagebrush will help protect your property or home from pests - plant it in your front garden, place dry twigs in the attic, or treat the wood with essential oil

. It is better to do this in early spring, when the insect population is low. To fight, use folk methods and chemicals, and after the complete extermination of pests, take the recommended preventive measures.

Video

The process of fighting bees has its own subtleties and peculiarities. In order to competently and effectively carry out the extermination of insects, watch the video:

About the author:

Marina Nabilskaya

A young mother, wife and part-time freelancer. Being a lawyer by education, she is used to collecting and providing the most complete and reliable information. Constantly improving in the professional field and striving for personal growth and development.

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